Combining Ability and Gene Action in Crosses among Asian and Ethiopian Genotypes of Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum L. Var. Annuum)

Lack of availability/scarcity of genetic information has limited improvement work on hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. annuum) in Ethiopia. However, information regarding the types and relativeimportance of gene actions can be generated using combining ability analysis and utilized in the selection of suitable genotypes for hybridization and for obtaining promising hybrids. This study aimed to generate useful information with respect to combining ability and gene action from p(p + 1)/2 half-diallel crossing pattern using twelve selected hot pepper genotypes of Ethiopian and Asian origins. Twelve parental lines and their 66 F1s were tested in randomized complete block design with three replications at Melkasa Agricultural ResearchCenter, Ethiopia, in 2004/2005 cropping season. Significant GCA and SCA effects were obtained for dry fruit yield per plant and related traits. The results showed the importance of both additive and non-additive gene actions with the predominance of the non-additive variances for dry fruit yield per plant and related traits, except for plant height and fruit length. An efficient breeding strategy for hot pepper could, therefore, be based on recurrent selection, inbred-derived hybrids or multiple crossing using genetically diverse hot peppergenotypes